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What is being done to improve influenza vaccines?

Collaborative efforts in the United States across the federal government and the private sector over the past 8 years have led to improved influenza vaccine technologies that have either expanded vaccine supply or improved vaccine effectiveness and in some cases accomplished both of these goals.

What are the roles of the different federal agencies working on flu vaccine improvements?

As the nation’s leading public health agency, CDC’s primary role in this effort has been to provide the recommendations for the best public health use of existing influenza vaccines. CDC also plays a leading role in conducting surveillance for, helping to select, and producing vaccine viruses used in flu vaccine production. The agency also supports the development of new and better vaccines. For example, CDC’s Influenza Division is using new advanced molecular detection (AMD) and genetics technologies to develop better H3N2 vaccine viruses (that grow well in eggs and that create a good immune response in people). In addition CDC monitors and reports on the effectiveness of existing influenza vaccines. FDA is the federal regulatory agency responsible for assuring the safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of drugs, vaccines and other biological products and medical devices. NIH is the nation’s medical research agency, a role which includes conducting clinical trials for vaccines.

What is the long-term goal of efforts to improve flu vaccines?

A longer term goal for flu vaccines is the development of a single vaccine that would provide safe, effective and long-lasting immunity against a broad spectrum of influenza viruses, both seasonal and novel. A flu vaccine with these qualities is often referred to as a “universal flu vaccine.”

What is CDC currently doing to support development of a universal flu vaccine?

At this time, CDC is participating in a broad inter-agency partnership coordinated by BARDA that supports the advanced development of new and better influenza vaccines. These efforts already have yielded important successes. But part of this effort is the eventual development of a “universal vaccine” that would offer better and broader and longer-lasting protection against seasonal influenza viruses as well as novel influenza viruses. This task poses an enormous scientific and programmatic challenge, but a number of government agencies and private companies already have begun work to advance development of a universal flu vaccine.